May 9, 2013

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FILE - This Feb. 1, 1993 file photo shows Pop superstar Michael Jackson performing during the halftime show at the Super Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Jackson's words and music rang through a courtroom once again on Monday, April 29, 2013, this time at the start of wrongful death trial, as a lawyer tried to show jurors the pop singer's loving relationship with his mother and children. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy, file) / AP

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Good morning! It’s Thursday, May 9, 2013. Here are today’s top 10 stories:

Following her first-degree murder conviction Wednesday in the killing of Travis Alexander, Arias told a TV station in a sensational interview that she would “prefer to die sooner than later” and that “death is the ultimate freedom.” The jury, which reached its verdict after only 15 hours, returns to court today to decide whether she will receive the death penalty or a jail sentence; Arias was placed on a suicide watch.

Acclaimed coach Drew Johansen’s resume lists a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Rochville University — widely described as a diploma mill that issues bogus degrees through the mail for a few hundred dollars. Critics say this sends a bad message to students and should possibly have disqualified Johansen as a candidate. IU’s athletic director, Fred Glass, said he determined Johansen’s coaching strengths outweighed any concerns. “He’s an innovator in the sport,” said Glass. “He has some training techniques that are cutting edge.”

PHOTO: David Boudia (left) and Nick McCrory (right) were coached by Drew Johansen (middle) in last year's Olympics at London.

Alcohol-tied misconduct cases jumped around the time of David Bisard’s 2010 arrest for drunken driving in a fatal crash into a group of motorcyclists. Experts say police officers often can turn to substances to relieve the stress of so much tragedy and violence in their working lives. Early intervention can head off personal and professional problems by teaching healthier coping mechanisms than alcohol or drugs.

Do you wanna go fast? The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will feature a zip line for four days this month, during Pole Day weekend and the May 26 Indianapolis 500. For May 17-19, the zip line will be available just north of the Tower Terrace, running parallel to Turn 4. Cost is $5. On race day, the zip line will move to Turn 3 in the Snake Pit.

Castro, 52, was set to be arraigned today on three counts of rape and four counts of kidnapping involving victims Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight. Castro was also charged with kidnapping in connection with Berry's 6-year-old daughter, who was also found at the home Monday and who police believe was fathered by Castro. A police report obtained by Cleveland TV station WKYC alleges that Castro impregnated Knight five times, forced her to starve for weeks at a time and punched her in the stomach until she miscarried. Castro, the report said, also forced Knight to deliver Berry's baby in a plastic kiddie pool and threatened to murder Knight if the newborn died. Additional charges against the former school bus driver could be filed at a later date.

• Castro was skilled at hiding his dark side, said many who knew him. The fired school bus driver loved playing with children, music and his bass guitar. "Nobody in the neighborhood or in the family could imagine that something like this would happen," his uncle and neighbor, Julio Castro, told ABC News.

The No. 2 diplomat in Libya during the Benghazi attack testified Wednesday that he and many others knew the Sept. 11, 2012 assault was terrorism from the moment it happened, and he was shocked when the Obama administration said otherwise. "I was stunned," said Gregory Hicks (pictured, center), former deputy chief of mission in Libya. "My jaw dropped and I was embarrassed." House Republicans insist the Obama administration is covering up information about the attack.

Eight people were killed when a fire swept through a clothing factory in Bangladesh, police and an industry association official said on Thursday, as the death toll from the collapse of another factory building two weeks ago climbed above 900. The Associated Press reported the dead from the fire included a top official in the country's clothing manufacturers' trade group.

A Food and Drug Administration investigation into the safety of caffeine-added foods has prompted Wrigley to temporarily halt sales and marketing of Alert caffeinated gum. A stick of the gum has an amount of caffeine equivalent to half a cup of coffee.

Choreographer Wade Robson told TMZ that a nervous breakdown triggered his memories of being molested by the pop star for seven years. In 2005, Robson (center) testified for the defense at Jackson's trial on charges of child molestation that Jackson never abused him as a child. Robson has now filed a claim against the singer’s estate for restitution. The estate's lawyer, Howard Weitzman, called the charges “outrageous and pathetic.”